Medical system

ABSTRACT

An endoscope surgery system is provided, as a medical system, to be easily used by a user who is not used to the operation. An endoscope operation system includes a trolley and a remote controller. The trolley includes a plurality of medical devices (having a TV camera for an endoscope, a light source device, pneumoperitoneum equipment, an electric knife, and a VTR). Further, the trolley includes a system controller for radio communication with the medical devices, and an operation panel and a display panel for operating the system controller. The system controller detects operation states of the plurality of medical devices, determines the medical device to be operated next based on the detection result, and displays, on the operation panel or the display panel, an operation screen of the medical device or a screen for information on the operation state based on the determination result.

This application claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2002-273567filed Sep. 19, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated by thisreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a medical system, and moreparticularly, to a medical system such as an endoscope surgery systemhaving a plurality of medical devices including an endoscope.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, medical institutions use a system having a plurality ofmedical devices.

As one of the above-mentioned systems, Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 6-114065 discloses an operation devicecontrolling system which controls the medical devices by previouslycommunicating with them.

In the operation device controlling system disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-114065, a user operatesthe medical devices on an operation panel. In this case, first, the userselects the medical device to be operated by the operation panel. Next,the user selects a function after selecting the medical device.Sequentially, the user performs the operation of the selected function.

Thus, above three operation steps must be executed to perform a courseof operations of the medical device.

Further, in the operation device controlling system disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-114065, firstof all, the user selects the medical device and, next, he selects thefunction. Hence, the user needs sufficient information of the medicaldevices.

In other words, the operation of the above-mentioned conventionaloperation device controlling system is extremely hard and complicatedfor the user who is not used to the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amedical system such as an endoscope surgery system which is easilyoperated by a user who is not used to the operation thereof.

Briefly, according to the present invention, an endoscope surgery systemhaving a plurality of medical devices including an endoscope, comprisesan operation state detecting means which detects operation states of theplurality of medical devices, a device determining means whichdetermines the medical device to be operated next based on a detectionresult of the operation state detecting means, and a screen controlmeans which displays, on a predetermined display means, an operationscreen of the medical device or a screen for information on theoperation state of the medical device based on a determination result ofthe device determining means.

These and other objects and benefits of the present invention will bedescribed in detail and will be apparent.

Further, according to the present invention, in the case of operatingone of a plurality of medical devices, a control screen and a screen forsetting contents of the medical device are automatically displayed.Therefore, it is possible to provide a medical system such as anendoscope surgery system, in which a medical device is easily operatedby a user who is not used to the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic structure of anendoscope surgery system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a systemcontroller according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing in detail a control unit of thesystem controller according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a remote controller according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an operation panel according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system controlleraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a main screen displayed on theoperation panel according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a main screen displayed on adisplay panel according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for operating anelectric knife displayed on the operation panel according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for information on anoperation state of the electric knife displayed on the display panelaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a main portion of a system controllerin an endoscope surgery system according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for playing a videotape of a VTR according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the connection between asystem controller and a hospital network according to a third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main portion of the systemcontroller in the endoscope surgery system according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of orderinginformation according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinbelow, a description is given of an example of applying thepresent invention to an endoscope surgery system as a medial systemaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

The endoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS.1 to 10.

First, a description is given of the schematic structure of theendoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment withreference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a patient bed 3 on which a patient 2 lies and anendoscope surgery system 11 are arranged in an operation room 1. Theendoscope surgery system 11 comprises a trolley 12 and a remotecontroller 30.

The trolley 12 comprises a television camera for the endoscope(hereinafter, referred to as a TV camera). 13, a light source device 14,pneumoperitoneum equipment 15, an electric knife 16, and a video taperecorder (hereinafter, referred to as a VTR) 17.

An endoscope 31, a distal side of a pneumoperitoneum tube 32, and aprobe 33 for the electric knife are transfixed into the patient 2.

The TV camera 13 for the endoscope is connected to the endoscope 31 viaa camera cable 31 a. The light source device 14 is connected to theendoscope 31 via a light guide cable 31 b.

A proximal side of the pneumoperitoneum tube 32 is connected to thepneumoperitoneum equipment 15 and receives gas for pneumoperitoneum fromthe pneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

The probe 33 for the electric knife is connected to a main body of theelectric knife 16 via an electric cable 33 a.

The trolley 12 has a monitor 18 which displays an endoscope image pickedup by the TV camera 13 for the endoscope. The VTR 17 records theendoscope image picked up by the TV camera 13 for the endoscope.

The endoscope operation system 11 according to the first embodimentcomprises a plurality of medical devices, for example: an endoscopesystem (also referred to as a first medical device) having the endoscope31, the camera cable 31 a, the TV camera 13 for the endoscope, the lightsource device 14, and the light guide cable 31 b; an electric knifesystem (also referred to as a second medical device) having the probe 33for the electric knife, the electric cable 33 a, and the electric knife16; a pneumoperitoneum system having the pneumoperitoneum tube 32 andthe pneumoperitoneum equipment 15; and the VTR 17 for recording imagedata indicating the endoscope image captured by the endoscope systemoperation system 11 to a predetermined recording medium.

Further, the trolley 12 comprises a system controller 20 for radiocommunication with the above medical devices, an operation panel 21 foroperating the system controller 20, and a display panel 22. Theoperation panel 21 and the display panel 22 are connected to the systemcontroller 20 via dedicated cables, respectively.

The system controller 20 detects operation states of the plurality ofmedical devices, determines a predetermined medical device to beoperated next based on the detection result, and displays, on theoperation panel 21 or the display panel 22, an operation screen of thepredetermined medial device to be operated next or a screen forinformation on the operation state of the predetermined medical deviceto be operated next based on the determination result.

That is, a signal from the TV camera 13 for the endoscope is received bya control unit 46 via a radio communication unit 45. In accordance withthe signal, the control unit 46 detects and determines the operationstate of the endoscope system as the first medical device, forecasts theoperation to be operated next based on the determination result, anddisplays, on the operation panel 21 or the display panel 22, theoperation screen forecasted as the next operation based on theforecasting result.

For example, a signal from the electric knife 16 is received by thecontrol unit 46 via the radio communication unit 45. In accordance withthe signal, the control unit 46 detects and determines the operationstate of the electric knife 16 as the second medical device, forecaststhe operation to be operated next based on the determination result, anddisplays, on the operation panel 21 or the display panel 22, theoperation screen forecasted as the next operation based on theforecasting result.

Incidentally, the display panel 22 comprises a normal CRT monitor or aliquid crystal display monitor.

Therefore, the control unit 46 in the system controller 20 has afunction of a first determining circuit for determining the operationstate of the endoscope system (first medical device), a function of asecond determining circuit for determining the operation state of theelectric knife system (second medical device), and a function of aforecasting circuit for forecasting the next operation based on thedetermination results of the first determining circuit and the seconddetermining circuit.

The remote controller 30 remotely controls the system controller 20 byinfrared.

Next, a description is given of the internal structure of the systemcontroller 20 in the endoscope surgery system according to the firstembodiment with reference to FIG. 2.

The system controller 20 comprises: a control signal receiving unit 41;an operation panel drive unit 42; a display panel drive unit 43; a videosignal processing unit 44; the radio communication unit 45; the controlunit 46; a PC card drive unit 47; a hard disk 48; and a power supplyunit 49.

The control unit 46 controls the control signal receiving unit 41, theoperation panel drive unit 42, the display panel drive unit 43, thevideo signal processing unit 44, the radio communication unit 45, the PCcard drive unit 47, and the hard disk 48. The power supply unit 49supplies a desired DC power voltage to the components in the systemcontroller 20.

The control signal receiving unit 41 is operated under the control ofthe control unit 46, receives the signal from the remote controller 30or the operation panel 21, converts the received signal to receptiondata, and supplies the data to the control unit 46.

The operation panel drive unit 42 transmits, to the operation panel 21,information necessary for display on the operation panel 21 under thecontrol of the control unit 46.

The display panel drive unit 43 transmits, to the display panel 22,information necessary for display on the display panel 22 under thecontrol of the control unit 46.

The radio communication unit 45 communicates with the medical devicesmounted on the trolley 12 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the radio communicationunit 45 radio-communicates, by IEEE 802.11b or IEEE 802.11g, with the TVcamera 13 for the endoscope, the light source device 14, thepneumoperitoneum equipment 15, the electric knife 16, and the VTR 17,under the control of the control unit 46.

The PC card drive unit 47 receives and transmits data to/from anexternal personal computer, via the PC card 4 under the control of thecontrol unit 46.

The video signal processing unit 44 converts, into a digital videosignal, the radio signal of IEEE 802.11a transmitted from the TV camera13 for the endoscope under the control of the control unit 46, recordsthe signal as a still image to the PC card 4 via the control unit 46 andthe PC card drive unit 47, converts the signal into an analog signalagain, then, and transmits the signal to the monitor 18 via a cable byusing wiring.

The hard disk 48 stores data for automatically setting the control unit46, reads the stored automatic setting data if necessary, and suppliesthe data to the control unit 46.

The control unit 46 (in the system controller 20) is operation statedetecting means which receives predetermined signals inputted from theTV camera 13 for the endoscope, the light source device 14, thepneumoperitoneum equipment 15, the electric knife 16, and the VTR 17 viathe radio communication unit 45 and which detects the operation statesof the medical devices.

Further, the control unit 46 (in the system controller 20) is devicedetermining means which determines the predetermined medical device tobe operated next based on the detection result of the system controller20 (as the operation state detecting means).

The operation panel drive unit 42 and the display panel drive unit 43are screen control means which displays, on the operation panel 21 orthe display panel 22 as predetermined display means, the operationscreen of the predetermined medical device to be operated next or thescreen for the information on the operation state of the predeterminedmedical device to be operated next, based on the determination result ofthe control unit 46 (device determining means).

The operation panel drive unit 42 functions as a display circuit whichdisplays, on a predetermined monitor screen, the operation screen to beforecasted as the next operation in accordance with the forecastingresult of the control unit 46 (forecasting circuit) of the systemcontroller 20.

Next, a detailed description is given of the control unit 46 in thesystem controller 20 in the endoscope surgery system according to thefirst embodiment with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 46 is a board personal computercomprising a board 60, and comprises: a CPU 50; a RAM 51; and variousgeneral interfaces of the personal computer on the board 60, such as aserial port 52, parallel port 53, a LAN port 54, a PS/2 port 55, a USBport 56, an FDD port 57 of a floppy (R) disk drive, an IDE port 58 of ahard disk drive, and a video port 59 for outputting the video signal.

Next, a detailed description is given of the remote controller 30 in theendoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment withreference to FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, the remote controller 30 comprises; a casing 61; adisplay unit 62; an operation button unit 63; a control unit 64; and atransmitting unit 65.

The display unit 62 is arranged on the surface of the casing 61, anddisplays operated equipment or a function of the remote controller 30.The operation button unit 63 is arranged to the surface of the casing 61and is pressed by the user.

The casing 61 has the control unit 64 and the transmitting unit 65.

The control unit 64 controls the display unit 62 and the transmittingunit 65 based on the operation of the operation button unit 63. Thetransmitting unit 65 transmits a radio signal to the system controller20 or the like shown in FIG. 1 under the control of the control unit 64.

Next, a detailed description is given of the operation panel 21 in theendoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment withreference to FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the operation panel 21 controls the medical devicesto be operated by a touch panel method.

The operation panel 21 comprises: a casing 71; a liquid crystal displayunit (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD unit) 72; a touch panel unit73; a transmitting unit 74; and a control unit 75.

The LCD unit 72 is arranged to the surface of the casing 71, anddisplays operated equipment, a function, and an image of the operationbutton under the control of the control unit 75.

The touch panel unit 73 is overlappingly arranged to the surface of theLCD unit 72 and detects the touch position of the user.

The control unit 75 controls the LCD unit 72 and the transmitting unit74 based on the operation of the touch panel unit 73. The transmittingunit 74 transmits the operation data to the system controller 20 shownin FIG. 1 under the control of the control unit 75.

As mentioned above, the endoscope surgery system 11 shown in FIG. 1comprises a plurality of medical devices including the above endoscope31.

A description is given of the operation with the structure according tothe first embodiment with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

In a normal state of the endoscope surgery system 11, the operationpanel 21 displays a main screen 80 shown in FIG. 7, and the displaypanel 22 displays a main screen 90 shown in FIG. 8.

Hereinbelow, a description is given of the operation for outputtinghigh-frequency current to the probe 33 for the electric knife from theelectric knife 16 in the normal state.

The user (operator in this case) presses a foot switch (not shown) ofthe electric knife 16 and, then, the electric knife 16 outputs thehigh-frequency current from the edge of the probe 33 for the electricknife. The information is transmitted to the radio communication unit 45in the system controller 20, and the system controller 20 detects thatthe electric knife 16 outputs the high-frequency current and recognizesthe detection information as information for outputting the electricknife in step S1 in FIG. 6.

Here, the operator of the electric knife 16 continues the usingoperation if the knife is keen. However, if the knife is not keen ascompared with his expectation, he confirms the setting. If the settingis wrong, the operator changes the setting.

Here, the knife is very dull or the desired high-frequency current isnot outputted after changing the setting and, then, the operatorconsiders that the electric knife 16 is damaged. Thus, the device isinspected by referring to trouble shooting.

When the system controller 20 recognizes the output state of theelectric knife 16, the next action of the operator is considered, suchas the confirmation for setting the electric knife 16, the settingchange, the reference of the trouble shooting of the electric knife 16.

In step S2 in FIG. 6, the system controller 20. previously displays anoperation screen 100 of the electric knife shown in FIG. 9 on theoperation panel 21 based on the above consideration, and furtherdisplays setting buttons (buttons 121 to 126) of the electric knife 16on the operation screen 100 of the electric knife. Next, in step S3 inFIG. 6, the system controller 20 displays a screen 110 for informationon the operation state of the electric knife shown in FIG. 10 on thedisplay panel 22, and further displays the setting of the electric knife16 on the operation screen 110 of the electric knife.

In step S4 in FIG. 6, the system controller 20. repeats the processingin step S4 while the electric knife 16 outputs the high-frequencycurrent. In the case of ending the output of the high-frequency currentby the electric knife 16, in step S5 in FIG. 6, the system controller 20displays the main screen 80 shown in FIG. 7 on the operation panel 21.In step S6 in FIG. 6, the display panel 22 displays the main screen 90shown in FIG. 8, and the processing ends.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the display operation of the operationpanel 21 and the display panel 22 is returned simultaneously with theend of outputting by the electric knife 16. However, the returningtiming may be one minute later after the ending of output.

A detailed description is given of the screens shown in FIGS. 7 to 10.

Referring to FIG. 7, usually, the operation panel 21 displays the mainscreen 80.

An area 81 on the top of the main screen 80 displays a characterindicating the type of screen (main screen).

In the bottom of the area 81 in the main screen 80, an area 82 on theleft displays characters of menus for selecting the screen, such as“main”, “electric knife”, “pneumoperitoneum equipment”, . . . , and“image”. The operation panel 21 is exchanged by selecting and pressingthe characters of the menu.

In the bottom of the area 81 of main screen 80, an area 83 on the rightfrom the middle portion displays setting contents of thepneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

An area 84 on the bottom of the area 83 in the main screen 80 displaysthe setting contents of the electric knife 16.

An area 85 in the bottom of the area 84 in the main screen 80 displaysthe setting contents of the TV 13.

Referring to FIG. 8, usually, the display panel 22 displays the mainscreen 90.

An area 91 on the upper left of the main screen 90 displays the settingcontents of the pneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

An area 92 on the down left of the display panel 22 displays theendoscope image picked up by the TV camera 13.

An area 93 on the upper right of the display panel 22 displays thesetting contents of the electric knife 16.

The bottom of the area 93 in the display panel 22 displays, in thedescending order, an area 94 indicating the setting of a red tone of theTV camera 13, an area 95 indicating the setting of a blue tone of the TVcamera 13, an area 96 indicating the setting of brightness of the lightsource device 14, an area 97 indicating the setting of on/off of anemergency lamp of the light source device 14, and an area 98 indicatingthe setting of a VTR mode.

When the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 1 recognizes the output ofthe electric knife 16, referring to FIG. 9, the operation panel 21displays the operation screen 100 of the electric knife.

An area 101 on the top of the operation screen 100 of the electric knifedisplays a character indicating the screen type (electric knife).

An area 102 on the left in the bottom of the area 101 in the operationscreen 100 of the electric knife displays characters of menus forselecting the screen, such as “main”, “electric knife”,“pneumoperitoneum equipment”, . . . , and “image”.

An area 103 on the right from the middle is arranged in the bottom ofthe area 101 in the operation screen 100 of the electric knife. The area103 displays the setting contents of an incision mode of the electricknife 16, the button 121 for selecting the incision mode, and theup-button 122 and the down-button 123 of the incision output.

An area 104 on the lower side of the area 103 of the operation screen100 of the electric knife displays the setting contents of a coagulationmode of the electric knife 16, the button 124 for selecting thecoagulation mode, and the up-button 125 and the down-button 126 for acoagulation output.

When the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 1 recognizes the output ofthe electric knife 16, referring to FIG. 10, the display panel 22displays the screen 110 for the information on the operation state ofthe electric knife.

An area 111 on the upper left of the screen 110 for the information ofthe operation state of the electric knife displays the setting contentsof the pneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

An area 112 on the down left of the display panel 22 displays theendoscope image picked up by the TV camera 13.

An area 113 on the upper right of the display panel 22 displays thesetting contents of the electric knife 16.

The bottom of the area 113 in the display panel 22 displays, in thedescending order, an area 114 indicating the setting of the incisionmode of the electric knife 16, an area 115 indicating the setting thecoagulation mode of the electric knife 16, an area 116 indicating thesetting of the brightness of the light source device 14, an area 117indicating the setting of on/off of the emergency lamp of the lightsource device 14, and an area 118 indicating the setting of the VTRmode.

As medical processing equipment for heating, coagulating, and incisingthe body anatomy, an ultrasonic output device is used, in addition tothe electric knife 16. According to the first embodiment, upon using theultrasonic output device, the similar display processing is performed onthe operation panel 21 or the display panel 22. In this case, theultrasonic output device applies ultrasonic vibrations to an edgeportion of a clamp, generates the friction heat in the sandwiched bodyanatomy, and coagulates or incises the anatomy.

According to the first embodiment, a recording device uses, e.g., theVTR 17. The VTR 17 is used for the purpose of recording the endoscopeimage during the operation.

A video tape as a recording medium used for the VTR 17 is that for twohours, for six hours, or the like. Therefore, upon operation over arecording time, conventionally, the video tape ends in the halfway andonly a message indicating such a fact is displayed simultaneously withthe end of the video tape. Here, the remaining time of the video tape isknown from the VTR 17. Thus, according to the first embodiment, when theremaining time is 10 minutes, a message instructing the exchange ofvideo tape is displayed on the operation panel 21 or the display panel22 and it is informed to the operator. Further, according to the firstembodiment, the operation screen of the VTR 17 is displayed on theoperation panel 21.

As the recording device, a video printer device can be used in additionto the VTR. The remaining amount of ink ribbon of the video printer isknown from the video printer. Thus, according to the first embodiment,when the remaining amount of ink ribbon of the video printer is 10pieces, a message instructing the exchange of ink ribbon is informed tothe operator on the operation panel 21 or the display panel 22.

According to the first embodiment, a method for exchanging the inkribbon can be displayed on the screen of the operation panel 21 or thedisplay panel 22.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the following method isconsidered in addition to the display operation of the medical device.

The system controller 20 has a function for setting, in a lump, themedical devices to setting values which are previously inputted, namely,an automatic setting.

Usually, the automatic setting is performed in a preparing step beforethe operation. As the operation in the preparing step, the white balanceof the TV camera device for the endoscope is adjusted or the recordingof the VTR starts.

That is, the system controller 20 displays a white balance screen of theTV camera device for the endoscope on the operation panel 21 or thedisplay panel 22 after completing the automatic setting.

After setting the white balance, the system controller 20 displays theoperation panel of the VTR on the operation panel 21 or the displaypanel 22.

Further, the system controller 20 sequentially displays forecastedoperation screens on the operation panel 21 or the display panel 22.

According to the first embodiment, in the endoscope surgery system, theindexes to be operated next are displayed on the operation panel 21 orthe display panel 22 from the normal medical action and the preparingaction of the operator and, thus, the user who is not used to theoperation thereof can easily operate it.

Next, a description is given of an endoscope surgery system according toa second embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 11and 12.

Referring to FIG. 11, a system controller 220 comprises: the componentsof the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 2 according to the firstembodiment; and a control unit 246 having operation log recordingcontrolling means 251, error log recording controlling means 252,reading means 253, VTR play controlling means 254, and display controlmeans 255.

When the above medical device is operated, the operation log recordingcontrolling means 251 records the operation contents as an operation logfile to the hard disk 48.

When the error is caused in the above medical device, the error logrecording controlling means 252 records error contents as an error logfile to the hard disk 48.

According to the second embodiment, the VTR 17 has means for recording,to the video tape, time for starting the recording and time for endingthe recording.

Thus, with the above-mentioned structure, the operation log recordingcontrolling means 251, the error log recording controlling means 252,and the hard disk 48 are state change recording means which records astate change of the medical device to the log file together with thecausing time, when the state of the medical device changes. The VTR 17is recording means which records the endoscope image.

When the VTR 17 is played, the reading means 253 reads start time andend time of the recording to the video tape (recording medium) of theVTR 17. The recording means 253 reads the recording start time which isrecorded to the video tape (recording medium).

Therefore, the reading means 253 is recording-start-time recording meanswhich records the recording start time to the video tape (recordingmedium).

The VTR play controlling means 254 plays the VTR 17 based on the datafrom the control signal receiving unit 41.

The VTR play controlling means 254 is play and display means which playsand displays the video image recorded to the VTR 17 (recording means) onthe monitor 18 or the display panel 22.

The display control means 255 counts the play time of the VTR 17,calculates the time together with the start time, and displays, on themonitor 18 or the display panel 22, information recorded to theoperation log file or the error log file in the hard disk 48simultaneously with the generated image on the VTR 17.

Therefore, the display control means 255 comprises play counting means,calculating means, and log contents display means.

The play counting means of the display control means 255 counts the playtime of the VTR play controlling means 254 (play and display means).

The calculating means of the display control means 255 calculates theactual play time by adding the recording start time read by the readingmeans 253 and the play counting time by the play counting means.

The log contents display means of the display control means 255 comparesthe actual play time calculated by the calculating means with theoccurrence time of the log file, and displays the log contents at theoccurrence time simultaneous with the actual play time.

Conventionally, the operation log and the error log are usually recordedas text information. The operation log and the error log are mainly usedby, a service person for maintenance. When the operation log and theerror log have the text information, the performed operation and theerror index are known. However, the occurrence timing and situation ofthe performed operation and error are not known.

In addition to the service person, the operator reviews the operationstate or reports the operation state to another doctor. However, theoccurrence timing and situation are not known.

To solve the difficult operation situations, according to the secondembodiment, the operation log, the error log, and the endoscope imageare displayed together to easily be viewed.

The medical devices are directly operated, thereby transmitting theinformation to the system controller 220.

When the medical devices are operated via the operation panel 21, theinformation is transmitted to the system controller 220.

The operation log recording controlling means 251 in the control unit246 records the information as the operation log file into the hard disk48 in the system controller 220.

When the error is caused in the medical devices, similarly to theoperation log file, the error information is transmitted to the systemcontroller 220.

The error log recording controlling means 252 in the control unit 246records the information as the error log file to the hard disk 48 in thesystem controller 220.

The endoscope image during the operation is generally recorded to theVTR 17. Upon starting to record the data of the VTR 17, the start timeand the end time are recorded and are stored in a video tape as arecording medium of the VTR 17.

Recently, the information may be recorded to recording devices such asthe hard disk or a DVD device, in place of the VTR.

The above-stored video tape is played and then a screen 260 shown inFIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor 18 or the display panel 22.

The screen 260 comprises a play area 261 of the recording image of theVTR 17, and a display area 262 for the operation log and the error log.Upon playing the VTR 17, the start time recorded to the VTR 17 is readto the reading means 253 and the play counting means in the displaycontrol means 255 starts to play and counts the VTR 17. Based on thestart time and counting time, the log contents display means of thedisplay control means 255 searches for the operation log and the errorlog in the hard disk 48, and displays the indexes recorded to thecorresponding operation log and error log on the display area 262 forthe operation log and the error log.

According to the second embodiment, the operation log, the error log,and the endoscope image are simultaneously displayed. Thus, theinformation on the operation situation and the error occurrence iseasily viewed and the analysis of the device failure and of theoperation of the operator is easily performed.

Next, a description is given of an endoscope surgery system according toa third embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 13to 15.

Referring to FIG. 13, a system controller 320 comprises a PC board. Thesystem controller 320 further comprises a LAN connector 361.

A hospital network 401 comprises a network board (not shown) having aLAN connector 401a and a LAN cable 402 connected to the network board.

The system controller 320 and the hospital network 401 connect a LANconnector 361 and a LAN connector 401a via the LAN cable 402.

Referring to FIG. 14, the system controller 320 comprises theabove-mentioned components of the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 2according to the first embodiment and the LAN connector 361 forconnection to the hospital network 401.

Further, the system controller 320 includes, in a control unit 346,setting value storage controlling means 351, ordering informationobtaining means 352, automatic setting file searching means 353, andautomatic setting executing means 354.

The setting value storage controlling means 351 stores a series ofsetting values of the connected medical devices by using a doctor nameof the operation, into the hard disk 48 as an automatic setting file.

The ordering information obtaining means 352 accesses the hospitalnetwork 402 upon turning on the system controller 320, and obtains itsordering information.

The automatic setting file searching means 353 selects the doctor namefrom the obtained ordering information, and searches for the automaticsetting file of the hard disk 48 based on the doctor name.

When the automatic setting file searching means 353 hits the automaticsetting file, the automatic setting executing means 354 executes theautomatic setting of the hit automatic setting file.

Conventionally, the automatic setting of the medical devices isperformed by a nurse who prepares for it. Recently, many hospitals havethe LAN for setting the schedule for the medical devices and the doctorschedule. In particular, the schedule of the medical devices takes rootas an ordering system.

According to the ordering system, it is known when and where, who of thedoctor uses the medical device.

Referring to FIG. 15, a data structure 403 of the ordering informationcomprises date, using time, using medical device, and doctor name.

The power supply of the system controller 320 is turned on, then, thesystem controller 320 accesses the hospital network 401, and it obtainsthe ordering information.

The ordering information includes that of another medical device.However, the operator's device can be recognized based on a device ID.The ordering information has the doctor name and can easily be obtained.

The system controller 320 compares the thus-obtained doctor name withthe name of the automatic setting data recorded in the hard disk 48. Ifthe obtained doctor name matches the name in the automatic setting data,the system controller 320 executes the automatic setting of theautomatic setting data of the name. If the doctor name does not matchthe name in the automatic setting data, the system controller 320performs no operation.

According to the third embodiment, the system controller 320 only readsthe ordering information, thereby completing the automatic setting ofthe medical devices. Thus, the troublesomeness for setting the medicaldevices is removed and, further, the medical device can be operated inaccordance with the ordering. The arrangement time of the medicaldevices is reduced and the medical devices are available in a shorttime.

Next, a description is given of an endoscope surgery system according toa fourth embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 11, and 12.

In the description of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 11 is a block diagramshowing a main portion of a system controller of the endoscope surgerysystem and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a play screen of avideo scope of the VTR. Components (not shown in FIG. 11) in theendoscope surgery system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and2.

Referring to FIG. 11, according to the fourth embodiment, operation logrecording controlling means 251 records the operation of the medicaldevices as the operation log file into the hard disk 48.

The recording start and the recording stop of the VTR 17 are recorded tothe operation log file.

When the error is caused in the medical devices, error log recordingcontrolling means 252 records the error contents as an error log fileinto the hard disk 48.

The VTR play controlling means 254 plays the VTR 17 (refer to FIGS. 1and 2) based on the data from the control signal receiving unit 41.

Upon playing the VTR 17, the display control means 255 reads a timercounter value of the VTR 17, counts the play time of the VTR 17,calculates the time, and displays, on the monitor 18 (refer to FIGS. 1and 2) or the display panel 22 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2), informationrecorded to the operation log file or the error log file in the harddisk 48 in accordance with the generating timing of the information,simultaneously with the generation of the VTR 17 image.

With the above structure, when the state of the medical device changes,the operation log recording controlling means 251, the error logrecording controlling means 252, and the hard disk 48 are state changerecording means which records, to the log file, change information andthe occurrence time of the state change.

The VTR 17 is recording means which records the endoscope image.

The VTR play controlling means 254 is play and display means which playsand displays the video image recorded to the recording medium of the VTR17 (recording means) to the monitor 18 or the display panel 22.

The display control means 255 includes the play counting means, thecalculating means, and the log contents display means.

The play counting means of the display control means 255 counts the playtime of the play and display means.

The calculating means of the display control means 255 reads therecording start time of the operation log file and a timer counter valueof the VTR 17, matches the read counter value to the play counting timeof the play counting means, and calculates the actual play time.

The log contents display means of the display control means 255 comparesthe actual play time calculated by the calculating means with theoccurrence time of the operation log file, and displays the log contentsat the occurrence time simultaneous with the play time.

According to the fourth embodiment, the operation log and the error logare displayed together with the endoscope image, thereby easily usingthe system. The medical devices are directly operated or are operatedvia the operation panel 21 and, thus, the information is transmitted tothe system controller 220. The operation log recording controlling means251 in the control unit 246 records the information as the operation logfile in the hard disk 48 in the system controller 220. Similarly to therecording of the operation log file, when the error is caused in themedical device, such error information is recorded as the error log filein the hard disk 48 in the system controller 220.

The endoscope image during the operation is generally recorded to theVTR 17. Upon starting to record the data of the VTR 17, the start timeand the end time are recorded and are stored in the operation log file.

The stored video tape is played and then the screen 260 shown in FIG. 12is displayed on the monitor 18 or the display panel 22.

The screen 260 comprises a play area 261 of the recording image of theVTR 17 and the display area 262 for the operation log and the error log.The VTR 17 is played, the recording start time for recording the data tothe operation log file and the timer counter value of the VTR are readto the calculating means of the display control means 255, and the playcounting means starts the play counting operation of the VTR 17. Thedisplay control means 255 calculates the actual play time based on thestart time, the timer counter value, and the play counting time.

The log contents display means of the display control means 255 searchesthe operation log and the error log in the hard disk 48 from the actualplay time, and displays the index recorded to the correspondingoperation log and error log on the display area 262 for the operationlog and the error log.

According to the fourth embodiment, the operation log, the error log,and the endoscope image are displayed together, thereby easilydisplaying the information on the operation situation and the erroroccurrence. Thus, the device failure is easily analyzed and, further,the operation of the operator is easily analyzed.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention referring tothe accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to those precise embodiments and variouschanges and modifications thereof could be made by one skilled in theart without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. A medical system comprising: a first medical device used for a firstmedical action; a second medical device used for a second medicalaction; a first communication portion which communicates informationconcerning an operation state of the first medical device; a secondcommunication portion which communicates information concerning anoperation state of the second medical device; a forecasting portionwhich forecasts the next operation based on at least one of theinformation concerning an operation state of the first medical devicecommunicated by the first communication portion and the informationconcerning an operation state of the second medical device communicatedby the second communication portion; and a display control portion whichdisplays, on a monitor screen, an operation screen which is forecastedas the next operation in accordance with a forecasting result of theforecasting portion.
 2. A medical system according to claim 1, whereinthe forecasting portion forecasts the next operation based on at leastone of the information concerning an operation state of the firstmedical device and the information concerning an operation state of thesecond medical device, and the display control portion displays, on themonitor screen, the operation screen forecasted as the next operation inaccordance with a forecasting result of the forecasting portion.
 3. Acontrol method of a medical system control device, comprising: a firstdetermining step of determining an operation state of a first medicaldevice used for a first medical action; a second determining step ofdetermining an operation state of a second medical device used for asecond medical action; an operation forecasting step of forecasting thenext operation based on a first determination result in the firstdetermining step and a second determination result in the seconddetermining step; and an operation screen display step of forming anoperation screen forecasted as the next operation in accordance with aforecasting result in the operation forecasting step and of displayingthe operation screen on a monitor screen.
 4. An endoscope surgery systemhaving a plurality of medical devices including an endoscope,comprising: operation state detecting means which detects operationstates of the plurality of medical devices; device determining meanswhich determines the medical device to be operated next based on adetection result of the operation state detecting means; and screencontrol means which displays, on predetermined display means, anoperation screen of the medical device to be operated next or a screenfor information on the operation state of the medical device to beoperated next, based on a determination result of the device determiningmeans.
 5. An endoscope surgery system having a plurality of medicaldevices including an endoscope, comprising: operation state detectingmeans which detects operation states of the plurality of medical device;device determining means which determines the medical device to beoperated next based on a detection result of the operation statedetecting means; and screen control means which displays, onpredetermined display means, an operation screen of the medical deviceor a screen for information on the operation state of the medical devicebased on a determination result of the device determining means. 6.(canceled)